It is my contention that the difference between a house and a boat is that if something breaks at sea, you have three choices 1) fix it, 2) replace it, or 3) do without it. At home, you call the plumber. At sea, you need some basic tools to survive if you don 't want to do without.

In my opinion, WD-40 and duct tape are two essentials. According to the old adage, "If it doesn 't move and it should, use WD-40. If it moves and it shouldn 't, use duct tape." WD-40 restored our frozen steering column mid-Atlantic and duct tape held our dodger together in a gale when it broke apart.

According to one interesting website, WD-40, duct tape and vice grips can handle almost any household job. http://artofmanliness.com/2012/03/12/the-walt-kowalski-toolbox/. But what about on a boat?

What 's your favorite use for WD-40 and duct tape? And are there other secret or not-so-secret weapons in your arsenal?


Other secret weapons: gorilla glue, liquid wrench, barkeeper 's friend...

Vice Commodore, OCC 

Interesting. I was told that WD40 collects salt which crystallises in the area you have lubricted. The crystalline salt causes wear leading to early failure. So I 'never ' use it in anything exposed externally without then washing it off again and then lubricating with a Silicone based lubricant or Turbogel which is a Teflon based lubricant.

In terms of my secret weapons: a solvent that dissolves araldite dissolves most things so cleans tar and other sticky stuff. Acetone for similar purposes but also for drying out wood prior to gluing, sealing. A vacuum packer and a very comprehensive tool kit.